Rangers put Yanks on the brink after smashing 4 homers

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Bengie Molina smacked a go-ahead three-run homer off A.J. Burnett in the sixth inning, helping the Texas Rangers put themselves on the brink of their first World Series appearance with a 10-3 win over New York in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium.

The Rangers, winners in all five of their road games this postseason, lead the best-of-seven series three games to one thanks to four home runs and four relievers shutting down the defending World Series champions over the final 5 2/3 frames.

Molina finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Josh Hamilton hit a pair of solo homers for Texas, which has hit at least one long ball in each of its nine playoff tilts. Nelson Cruz also went deep in the lopsided affair.

[photogallerylink id=34844 align=left]Derek Holland (1-0) tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings to get the win behind Tommy Hunter, who was charged with three runs on five hits in 3 1/3 frames.

Burnett (0-1), called upon despite his late-season struggles, yielded five runs on six hits and three walks over six innings in a loss further exacerbated by a strained right hamstring to first baseman Mark Teixeira. Get more ALCS and Texas Rangers news on 1053thefan.com